Method and machine for packaging articles



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METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 3, 1960 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 m Ankh: v m i (A mm vs C QM EM April 16; 1963 R. H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 3, 1960 INVENTOR 205627 /.4 G4/YZ ATT NEYS April 16, 1963 R. H. GANZ 3,035,377

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 3, 1960 14 Sheets-Sneet 12 iNVENTOR EOBE'ET H GAIVZ ATT NEYS April 16, 1963 R. H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 3, 1960 \NVENTOR ROBERT h! GA/V g BY iTT RNEYs April 16, 1963 R. H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Aug. 3, 1960 INVENTOR B05637 M Gfl/VZ Z BY ATTERNEYS 3,085,377 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Robert H. Ganz, Hackensack, N.J., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 47,294 32 Claims. (6]. 53-186) The invention relates to the packaging of containers in wrap-around paperboard carriers.

My invention has special application for use with paperboard cartons which have closure and locking means of the type disclosed in the copending application of Arthur J. Weiss, Serial No. 748,728, filed July 15, 1958, now US. Patent No. 2,990,997. Such cartons have overlapping closure panels one of which has a latch opening and the other of which includes a rotary catch {for engagement with such latch opening. To close and lock the carton, my invention makes use of a form of closing and locking means similar to that of the machine disclosed in the copending application of Henry Ganz, Serial No. 744,634, filed June 26, 1958, now US. Patent No. 2,986,857. The present application is in part a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 775,243, now Patent No. 2,998,685.

Summary In accordance with my invention, the paperboard carton blanks are delivered onto a carton blank conveyor where their side panels are folded. The containers arranged in rows are delivered to the machine by a conveyor which carries the containers beneath the incoming carton blanks. After the carton blank side panels are initially folded, the blanks are carried beyond the termination of the carton blank conveyor and dropped upon the incoming containers. Upon being dropped, the folded carton blank is positioned with respect to the containers to be packaged therein and the carton blank is rolled down in place upon the containers. The carton blank and the containers to be packaged therein are then advanced by a conveyor away from the incoming containers and through the remainder of the machine where the carton is closed and locked around the containers.

The incoming containers are delivered into the machine by a container conveyor beneath the overlying carton blank conveyor. The container conveyor delivers the containers at a steady rate and is synchronized with the machine. The carton blanks in fiat form are stored in a hopper above the carton blank conveyor. Vacuum cups mounted on swinging arms strip the carton blanks, one at a time, from a stack of stored blanks and place them upon the carton blank conveyor which delivers the carton blanks forward at a rate synchronized with the machine whereupon the side panels are folded downwardly.

While travelling on the carton blank conveyor, the carton blanks pass beneath rotating folding discs which fold down the side panels. The folded carton blanks are carried beyond the termination of the carton blank conveyor and dropped upon-the incoming containers. As the carton blanks are dropped, their forward motion carries them against stop members which arrest the forward motion and positions the blanks with respect to the containers to be packaged therein. Rollers mounted on rotating supports as well as rotating finger means assist the downward motion of the folded carton blank onto the containers. Finally, the rollers force the carton into close contact with the upper portions of the containers.

Conveyors advance the folded carton blank and the containers forward and away from the incoming containers toward the portion of the machine where the 3,685,3 7? Patented Apr. 16, 1963 closure flaps of the carton are folded against one another. During the remaining travel of the carton and containers, the closing and locking of the cartons are completed.

In one form of machine heretofore employed, the containers are segregated into groups to be packaged before the folded carton blank is dropped upon them. The segregation of the containers into groups entails the stopping of the rows of incoming containers, the insertion of stops to isolate the containers of the group to be packaged, the dropping of the folded carton blank upon the group, and the advancement of the group and containers into the machine. Upon the advancement of the containers and blank, the incoming containers are released forward against an additional stop to make another group of containers ready for segregation. Such segregation requires the starting and stopping of the incoming containers. The impact loads associated with the repetitive starting and stopping can cause damage to the containers especially in the case where bottles are used. The segregation also requires a configuration of accurately timed stop members and associated apparatus to perform their required function.

The elimination of segregation of the containers into groups to be packaged also makes the machine more versatile since it can be simply adjusted for packages having different sizes and numbers of containers. The simplicity of adjustment is possible since a number of the synchronized elements required for segregation of the containers into groups have been eliminated.

In previous machines the carton blank has been tightened with respect to the containers by the application of lateral forces to the carton side walls and closure flaps by means of fixed side guides. Such rigid guides can interfere with the smooth travel of the package through the machine. In addition, the friction resulting from such guides requires a greater pushing force by the conveyor which can result in damage to the carton and containers. In the case of bottles, the wrap-around carton must be very tightly applied in order that the bottles not slip out of it. However, there is a limit to the degree of tightening that can be performed by fixed guides without applying excessive force to the bottles which are usually glass. The normal tolerance on the diameter of the bottles makes closely fitted guides impractical.

In another form of my invention, means are provided to tighten the carton blank about the containers as the package is conveyed through the portion of the machine where the closure flaps are folded and locked with respect to one another. The tightening members urge the side panels and closure flaps toward one another to tighten the package and move forward with the package to maintain the tightening forces during the closure and locking of the carton blank. The tightening members contact the carton in the regions between the bottles so that they can not act directly against the bottles and damage them. The moving tightening members can assist the pushing action of the conveyor and thereby distribute the forces required to move the package among the various containers therein. The distribution of force prevents damage to the blank and containers since all of the force is not concentrated at the rear portion of the blank and at the rear containers only.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Description In the drawings, I have illustrated a machine to show the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention as to the feeding of carton blanks and containers into a machine for packaging the containers in a wraparound carton.

FIG. 1a is a front elevational view of the machine.

FIG. lb is an enlarged sectional view of the attachment for the adjustable legs of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

FIG. 3a is a plan view of the conveyors of the machine.

FIG. 3b is an enlarged plan view of the container pusher member.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged front elevational view of the container pusher member.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the carton blank hopper.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 illustrating the carton blanks resting in the carton blank hopper.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2, illustrating the dropping of the folded carton blank on the incoming bottles.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating the folding of the carton side panels.

FIG. 8 is an enlarge-d sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6, illustrating the rollers for pressing the folded carton blank onto the bottles.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating the folded carton placed upon a larger size group of bottles.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the folded carton being placed upon a single row of bottles.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the drives for the carton blank stops.

FIG 12a is an enlarged carton blank stops.

FIG. 12b is an enlarged front elevational View of modified form of the rollers for pressing the folded carton blank onto the bottles.

FIG. 13a is a plan View illustrating the tightening members acting upon the carton.

FIG. 13b is a front elevational members and the package.

FIG. 13c is an enlarged plan view of the tightening members and FIG. 13d is an enlarged elevational views of the tightening members.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the approach of the carton blank toward the carton blank stop.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the carton blank positioned over the bottles and the withdrawal of the carton blank stop.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the removal of the carton blank and group of containers away from the incoming containers.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the further removal of the carton blank and group of containers.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the final stage of removal of the carton blank and group of containers and the approach of the returning carton blank stop.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the insertion of the carton blank stop and the approach of the carton blank toward it.

FIG. 20' is an enlarged plan view of the conveyor pusher member.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged plan view of the pusher and chain travelling in a circular path.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 20 illustrating the attachment of the pusher to the conveyor chain.

Bottles 30 enter the machine (FIG. 1a) along conveyor chains 63 which are driven and supported by sprockets 64 and 65. As the bottles approach the machine they are engaged by pushers 66 (FIG. 3a) attached to chains 67. Pushers 66 are spaced along chains 67 at intervals corresponding to a predetermined number of bottles 30. Pushers 66 serve to synchronize the entry of the bottles perspective view illustrating the view of the tightening into the machine while at the of bottles against the line pressure of the means (not shown) feeding bottles to conveyor chains 63. Bottles 39 are pushed by pushers 66 onto container conveyor chains 31. Pushers 66 (FIG. 3a) have concave surfaces 69 which have a radius of curvature corresponding to that of bottles 31). Pushers 66 are supported on chains 67 by attaching links 70 which fits into recesses 71. Chains 67 are driven by sprockets 72 which are synchronized to the machine by driving means (not shown) connected to main drive shaft 96. Idler sprockets 73 position and support chain 67. Container conveyor chains 31 are driven and supported by sprockets 33 and 34 which are connected to main drive shaft 96 by means not shown. Travelling along container conveyor chains 31, bottles 31) remain in contact with one another.

Carton blanks 119 (FIG. 5) include side panels 125 and 126, top panel 127, and closure panels 128 and 129. Closure panel 128 has a latching flap 130, rotary catches 131 along the fold line 132, and tongues 133 attached to the latching flap 130. Latch openings 134 are located on closure panel 129. To enable the carton to be conveniently folded during application of the carton, fold lines are provided between the various panels. The carton must be tightly drawn around bottles 30 to prevent them from being accidentally spilled from the carton. Tabs 74 extending from perforations are provided to receive theheels 76 of bottles 30. Half-cuts 77 and cuts 78 enable heels 76 of bottles 30 to force tabs 74 outwardly and to deflect side panels and 126 along halfcut 77 so that carton blank 119 tightly encases bottles 39. Openings 79 of top panel 127 receive the necks of bottles 31) upon application of carton 119. The punching of tabs 79 form finger openings by which the assembled carton and bottles may be conveniently carried.

Carton blanks 119 are fed into the machine by hopper 135. (FIGS. 1a, 4 and 5). In hopper 135, carton blanks 119 are stored upon supports 136 which are attached to frame members 137. Additional support to the carton blank is provided by discs 138 which are attached to arms 139 by screws 140. Arms 139 are attached by screws 141 to support 136 mounted on frame members 137. The lower portion of cartons 119 is supported by guide 86 which has a wedge-like cross section. Brackets 145 attached to support member 137 by screws 146 support bar 147 which is held by screws 148. Clamping members 149 are placed at intervals along bar 147 and are locked in place by plates 150 which hold arms 151 against bar 147. Plates 150 are attached by screws 152. The upper portions of carton blanks 119 in hopper 135 are supported by rollers 153 which are pivotally mounted in ends 154 extending from arms 151.

At the central portion of bar 147, clamping member 149 and plate 150 support arm 81. To the lower end of arm 81 is attached bracket 82 which supports wedge 83. Whenever carton blanks 119 are loaded into hopper 135 the upper edges of the blanks are fanned by sliding along sloping surface 84 of wedge -83. The fanning action caused by wedge 83 permits air to enter be tween the individual carton blanks so that they will not tend to stick to one another during the feeding operation. The position of the blanks 119 may be adjusted by rotation of screw 140 which is engaged with disc 138 and locked by cam nut 144.

Carton blanks 119 are fed from hopper 135 (FIG. 4) onto carton blank conveyor chains 168 by means of vacuum suction cups 155. The cups are mounted upon tubes 156 which are attached to arms 157 containing internal passages (not shown) leading to hoses 158. Hoses 158 which are connected to a vacuum source (not shown) are attached to each of the arms 157. Arms 157 are attached to shaft 159 which is supported in bushings 160 in frame members 161.

To feed an individual carton blank 119 shaft 159 is rotated so as to swing arms 157 and suction cups same time holding the rows downwardly. Shaft 159 is driven by link 162 which is pivotally connected to floating link 163 (FIG. la). Swinging link 164, mounted on pivot 165 is pivotally attached to floating link 163. Roller follower 166, pivotally attached to swinging link 164, is driven by cam 167 so as to impart a cyclical swinging motion to arms 157. In this manner vacuum cups 155 are caused to pull down carton blank 119 onto carton blank conveyor chains 168 passing beneath hopper 135. The wedgeshaped contour of guide 80 assists the smooth movement of carton blank 119 as it is pulled down by the action of vacuum caps 155. Upon feeding carton blank 119, it is engaged by pushers 169 attached to carton blank conveyor chains 168 and thereby delivered into the machine. Spring 178 (FIG. la) is attached to swinging link 164 in order to bias it in a downward direction and maintain roller follower 166 in contact with the surface of cam 167.

Carton blank conveyor chains 168 are driven by sprockets 179 which are synchronized with main drive shaft 96. Drive sprockets 17 9 and idler sprockets 1-80' are mounted in support plates 130a. Upon being fed onto conveyor 168, carton blanks 119 are moved along rails 168a (FIG. 7) by pushers 169 and travel beneath guides 84 which are disposed proximate to the upper reaches of conveyor chains 168. Folding discs 18]. are attached to arms 182 which are rotated by shaft 183 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The edges of folding discs 181 contact side panels 125 and 126 of carton blank 1'19 and urge the side panels in a downward direction so as to fold them along the fold lines of top panel 127 Guides 84 counteract the tendency of the carton blank 119 to deflect under the forces of folding discs 181 and thus facilitates the folding operation. Shaft 183 is supported in support extension 185 of support member 161 and is driven by means (not shown) so as to be synchronized from main drive shaft 96. During the folding operation the upper reaches of conveyor chains 168 serve as a folding edge or folding supporting surface. Guides 84- maintain panel 127 substantially flat during the folding operation. As the partially folded carton blanks 119 (FIGS. 2 and 7) pass beyond the folding discs 181, the leading edges of closure panels 125 and 126 pass within the extended folding bars 186.

Bottles 30 are pushed by container conveyor chains 31 beyond the end of support plate 32 and onto support plate 187 (FIG. 6). Guides 189 maintain bottles 30' aligned with support plate 32. Bottles 30 are conveyed along support plate 187 and they pass from beneath carton blank conveyor chains 168 to a point where the folded carton blank is applied. While bottles 30 are being conveyed along plate 187 the folded carton blank 1-19 is delivered by conveyor chains 168 from beneath guides 84 and carried beyond the end of the conveyor. As the upper surface of top panel 127 passes from contact with guides 84 it enters beneath curved guides 85 which extend downwardly toward the moving bottles 30. The leading edge of top panel 127 slides along curved guides 85 so that folded carton blank 1-19 tilts as it passes off the end portion of carton blank conveyor chains 16%. The forward motion of folded carton blank 119 is arrested by the contact of the leading edges of side panels 125 and 126 with stops 35. Synchronization between the incoming bottles 30 and the descending folded carton blank 119 is such that as the leading edge strikes stops 35 the tops 38a of the leading bottles are substantially aligned with the webs 86 disposed between the leading and middle openings in top panel 1217. As the contact between tops 30a and webs 86 occurs, carton blank 119 may still be tilted. In order to insure that folded carton blank '119 is in contact with stops 35 as the leading bottles 30 advance webs 86, carton blank conveyor chains 168 may be operated with a linear speed greater than that of the speed of bottles 30. Stops 35 are used to insure that the carton blank is properly positioned when packaging longneck bottles and cans. When packaging short-neck bottles, crown-top cans or screw-top cans, stops 35 may be dispensed with since the necks or tops can engage the openings in the carton as it drops and position it with respect to the containers.

Stop 35 (FIGS. 2 and 12a) is attached to support 36 by screws 37 extending through slot 38 and is adjustable as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Support 36 is attached to link 39 by screws 40. Link 39 is adjustable toward and away from the machine so that stop 35 properly engages the leading edges of the carton side walls. Pivot screw 43 attaches swinging arm 41 to stud 42 mounted upon support plate 44 which is attached by legs 45 (FIG. la) to frame 46. One end of swinging arm 41 is pivotally connected to link 39 by pivot screw 47 while the other end carries cam follower 48 which is attached by pivot screw 49. Swinging link 50 is attached to support plate 44 at pivot 51 and the free end of link 50 is pivotally attached to link 39 by spacer 52 and pivot screw 53. It may be seen that support plate 44 serves as a fixed link while swinging arm 41 and swinging link 50 serve as the moving links for the system which operates stop 35. Follower 48 is driven by cam 54 which is made up from separate plate cams 55, 56 and 57 (FIGS. 11 and 12a). Plate 58 and screw 59 secure cam 54 to cam shaft 60. {AS indicated by arrows in FIG. 2, the rotation of cam 54 imparts a reciprocal motion to stop 35 which -is substantially at right angles to the path of travel of bottles 30 through the machine. Both sides of the machine are provided with stops 35' in a symmetrical fashion as shown in FIG. 2.

Cam 54 (FIG. 11) is driven by cam shaft 60 which is piloted by bushing 87 in shaft support 88. Shaft support 88 is attached to frame members 89 by screws 90. Cam 54 mounted on collar is assembled with spacer 94 and collar 91 by screws 59. Conveyor chain sprocket 93 is mounted on spacer 94. The assembly of cams, sprocket, and spacers is engaged with cam shaft 60 by key 92.

-As shown in FIG. la main drive shaft 96 is provided with pulley 104 which is driven by belt 185 passing over pulley 106 of motor 197. Frame member 89 (FIG. ll) which carries drive shaft 96 in bushing 99 is mounted on frame 46 by screws 198 and spacers 109.

Conveyor chains 110 (FIG. 2.) serve to advance folded carton blank 119 and bottles 30 away from the incoming bottles 30. Following this operation conveyor chains 110 continue to push the carton blank and bottles through the machine during the closing and locking of the carton flaps. Sprockets 111, 112 and 113 position the chain and maintain its tension. Sprocket 93 on shaft 60 (FIG. 11) transmits the drive to chain 110.

FIGS. 19-22, inclusively, show the details of pushers 114 which are attached to conveyor chains 110 for simultaneously pushing carton blanks 119 and bottles 30. Chain 110 is provided with anchor links 115 to which pushers 114 are attached by pins 116. Surface 117 of pusher 114 contacts the outside surface of the trailing bottles of the group beneath folded carton 119, while surface 118 in the recess of pusher 114 contacts the trailing edge of carton blank 119. Lugs 120 are engaged with the upper and lower surfaces of pusher 114- and support it. Folded carton blank 119 (FIG. 6) is carried by conveyor chains 168 upon the termination of the conveyor at sprockets 179 so that folded carton blank 119, in contact with curved guides 85, drops upon the rows of bottles 30* being delivered along support plates 187. Stops 35 limit the forward travel of the dropping carton blank and thereby position it with respect to bottles 30 to be packaged therein.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, folded carton blank 119 is forced to descend down completely over the necks of bottles 36 by contact with rollers 191a and 1915 which are mounted in rotating supports 192. Rollers 191a are spaced from one another at a distance corresponding to the width of the package so that the rollers may pass down along side panels 125 and 12s to complete their downward folding. Rollers 19'1b are spaced from one another in such a manner that they pass along tabs 79 and the outer portions of top panel 127 in order to press these portions of carton 119 into their proper position. Rotating supports 192 are clamped to shaft 193 which is free to rotate in bushings within supporting arms 194. Slots 197 in arms 194 permit adjustment of the rollers and rotating supports with respect to bottles 30. Brackets 198 are attached to the supporting arms 194 by screws 2% in slots 199 so as to position supporting arms 194. Fixed shaft 291 secured to support extension 135 by screws 292 serves. to hold brackets 1% (FIG. 6). The axis of shaft 193 is positioned so that the path of rollers 191a and 1911) will be such as to force top panel 127 in firm contact with bottles 30. Roller 191]) may be provided with a convex inner face to smoothly engage the carton sides (FIG. 8). The action of the rollers may be augmented by the provision of resilient finger 121 attached to block 122 on shaft 193. Curved portion 123 of finger 121 passes along the central portion of top panel 127 to force the panel down along the necks of bottles 30. The lateral dimension of finger 121 permits it to travel freely between the necks of bottles 30. FIG. 12]) illustrates a modification having a plurality of fingers 121a, b, c.

In FIG. 9 supporting arms 194 and brackets 198 are shown adjusted to a degree sufiicient to accommodate a carton containing rows of four bottles each rather than the rows of three bottles each as shown in FIG. 6.

T o insure that carton blank 119 is properly positioned with respect to bottles 30, carton blank conveyor chains may be operated with a greater linear velocity than that of container conveyor chains 31. Then, as carton blank 11? is dropped from conveyor chains 168, it moves directly along the lower surface of curved guides 85 and strikes stops 35. Due to its greater velocity, carton blank 119 is positioned by the guides before bottles 39 are advanced completely beneath the folded carton blank. In this way the positioning of carton blank 119 is properly synchronized with moving bottles 30.

In the case of a change in size or number of bottles 30 to be packaged in a group, the machine can be readily adjusted by setting the proper relation between the speeds of carton conveyor chains 168 and container conveyor chains-31. In the case of a longer carton andgroup, conveyor chains 168 can be slowed in order to allow the greater number of bottles 39 to advance into the region where the carton blank is dropped. The interval between carton blanks 119- on carton conveyor 168 may also be varied by adjustment of hopper 135 in order to accommodate packages of different sizes. For each adjustment, the timing of. stop 35 must be maintained.

If the speed of conveyor 31 is varied a greater or lesser number of bottles may be packaged into a group without changing the speed of carton conveyor 163 or the timing of stop 35. It is evident that this configuration makes the machine very versatile, in that it can be simply adjusted to package a range of package sizes due to the function of dropping folder oarton blanks 119 onto continually moving bottles 3t Varying the speed of container conveyor 31 results in pushers 114 on chain 11%} removing a greater or lesser number of bottles 31 from the rows of incoming bottles since a diiferent number of bottles will be advanced before pushers 114 engage them. Thus, it is possible to vary the size or number of the bottle group Without changing the speed of chains 110.

Frame members 161 are supported by legs 170 which are slideably attached by bolts 171 to upright members 1'72 of the machine frame. The vertical positioning of the carton blank conveyor chains and hopper is determined by the adjustment of screw shaft 173 acting upon frame member 46 through collar 174. Screw shaft 173 is engaged by threads to lug 175 of leg 170. FIG. lb shows the details of the fastening of the leg 174} at a fixed distance from upright members 172. Slots 177 in upright members 172 allow for the adjustment.

As bottles 30 travel along support plate 187 (FIG. 8 carton blank 119 and bottles 30 pass beneath rollers 2% which insure that carton blank 119 is in contact with the upper portions of bottles 36. Rollers 204 rotate on shafts 2195 which are attached to arms 2%. Beyond the location of rollers 204, carton blank 119 is maintained against the upper portions of bottles 30 by the pressure exerted by hold-down bars 20-7 and 208.

In FIG. 10, a package containing a single row of bottles, rather than the double row previously discussed, is shown. Adjustment of rotating supports 192 along shaft 193 permits rollers 191a and 1911; to press carton blank 119 down properly over the narrower package.

In FIG. 14, bottles 30 are shown advancing along support plates 187. Folded carton blank 119 which has been dropped from carton blank conveyor 168 is shown approaching the extended stop 35 in advance of bottles 30 which are to be enclosed within the carton blank. Carton blank 119 may be dropped sufiiciently in advance of bottles 39 or dropped with a greater linear speed of travel than bottles 30 in order to insure that it strikes stop 35 in advance of the moving bottles so as to be positioned correctly with respect to the bottles. At this point, pusher 114 is advancing toward movingbottles 30.

In FIG. 15 stop 35 is shown being withdrawn, but still positioning carton blank 119. Bottles 30 are shown advancing to their proper position beneath folded carton blank 119. It may be seen that stop 35 is synchronized so as to be withdrawn before it can contact the advancing bottles. Pusher 114 is shown rotating about sprocket 111 and is about to engage the trailing bottles 30 of the group being packaged. In FIG. 16, stop 35 is shown fully withdrawn away from carton blank 119. Pusher 114 is shown engaged with carton blank .119 and bottles 30. Surface 117 of pusher 114 contacts the rear bottle 30 of the group, while surface 118 bears upon the trailing edge of side panel 125 of carton 1-19. The linear speed of chain being greater than that of incoming bottles 30 results in the acceleration of the group of bottles and carton blank away from the advancing bottles.

In FIG. 17, bottles 30 and carton blank 119 are shown being further removed in advance of incoming bottles 30. The difference in linear speed causes an increasing gap between the trailing bottles of the group and the incoming bottles. Stop 35 remains withdrawn in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 18, bottles 30' and carton blank 119 are shown to be further advanced by the action of pusher 114. At this point stop 35 begins to return toward the path of travel of carton blank 119 and bottles 30'.

In FIG. 19, stop 35 has been advanced by the cam driven linkage to a point where it intersects the path of travel of carton blank 119. The carton blank is shown approaching stop 35 in advance of the leading bottles. This figure shows the completion of a cycle of operation of stop 35 and pusher 114.

After passing beyond stops 35 and beneath rollers 204 (FIG. 2) bottles 30 and carton blank 119 are advanced along support plate 137 to the portion of the machine Where the carton closure flaps are closed and locked beneath bottles 30. The closing and locking of carton 119 is performed by means similar to that disclosed in the copending application of Henry Ganz, Serial No. 744,634, filed June 26, 1958. Guide 210 initiates the upward folding of closure panel 129 beneath the tapered portion 211 of support plate 187. Convergent guide 213 initiates the upward folding of closure panel 128.

As closure panels 128 and 129 are folded upwardly, carton 119 may be tightened about bottles 30 by the pressing action of tightening members 230 (PIGS. 13a-a'). Tightening members 230 include base portion 231 from which upwardly extends roller 23-2. The edge of base portion 231 is provided with sloping section 233 which has a rounded end portion. Base 234 of tightening mem- 9 ber 230 is attached to chain 235 by attaching link 236 and pin 237. Tightening member 230 is additionally positioned with respect to chain 235 by supporting links 238. Chain 23-5 is driven by sprockets 239 and supported by idler sprockets 240. As tightening members 230 approach the incoming group of carton blank 119 and bottles 30, base portion 231 passes beneath carton blank 119 and roller 232 comes into contact with the side panel of the carton blank in the region adjacent the lower fold lines and between bottles 30. As shown in FIGS. 13c and d, rollers 232 urge the lower side wall portions of carton blank 119 inwardly.

Tightening members 230 are maintained substantially horizontal and in contact with the carton by means of support provided by slides 241 upon which the lower surface of tightening members bears. Slides 241 are held by supports 24-2 upon which the carton groups travel. As shown in FIG. 13a tightening members 230 pass about driving sprocket 239 and engage the side walls of folded carton blank 119 one after the other. The rolling action of rollers 232 enable the tightening members to make a smooth engagement with the sides of the carton blank. As shown in FIG. -13b, the line of action of tightening members 230 is between bottles 30 so that the tightening forces are not directly applied to the bottles with the resulting possibility of damaging them. Chains 235 have the same linear velocity as do chains 110. As shown in FIG. 13a when tightening members 230 are engaged with carton blank 119, they serve to augment the pushing action of pushers 114 on chains 110. The result is the distribution of the conveying forces throughout the carton and bottles so that all of the conveying force need not be exerted against the trailing edges of carton 119 and the trailing bottles 30 of the group.

As the carton blank 119 and bottles 30 are conveyed through the machine by the action of pushers 114 and while being tightened by the action of tightening members 230, the carton and bottles travel along supports 2.42. Tongues 133 of latching flap 130 are folded and locked through latch openings 134 so as to complete the locking of the package.

Operation As a further aid to the understanding of my invention, 1 shall now described the preferred sequence of operating steps.

Bottles 30 are delivered into the machine by container conveyor chains 63 to a point where the bottles are engaged by pushers 66 disposed along chains 67. Pushers 66 advance the bottles onto container conveyor chains 31.

Carton blanks 119 are fed from hopper 135 by the action of swinging vacuum cups 155 onto carton conveyor chains 168. Pusher members 169 direct the carton blanks beneath rotating folding discs 181 so that side panels 125 and 126 are folded downwardly. Folding bars 186 continue this folding action.

The folded cartons 119 are then conveyed beyond the termination of carton conveyor chains 168 so that the folded carton drops upon the rows of bottles beneath which are being delivered continually into the machine. During the dropping motion curved guides 85 direct folded carton blank 119 downwardly. The forward motion of folded carton blank 119 carries it against extended stops 35 which intersect the line of travel of the carton blank. In this way, stops 35 position the carton blank with respect to the oncoming bottles which are to be packaged therein. Folded carton 119 is forced into place over the upper portions of bottles 30 by the pressing action of rollers 191a and b as well as the downwardly directed force of resilient finger 121.

With stops 35 withdrawn, bottles 30 within folded carton 119 are advanced from the incoming bottles by means of pushers 114 disposed along conveyor chains 110. As the carton and bottles are advanced by pushers 114, tightening members 230, disposed along chains 235,

are brought into engagement with side panels and 126 to tighten the carton about the bottles and to insure the proper overlapped relationship of closure panels 128 and 129. The carton and bottle group is then advanced through the remainder of the machine where the closing and locking of the carton is completed.

I claim:

1. In a machine for applying a wrap-around carton to containers and the like arranged in rows, means for delivering the carton blanks into the machine including carton blank conveying means operating in the direction of and overlying the containers being delivered into the machine, said means for delivering the carton blanks terminating substantially above the location where said folded carton blanks are dropped onto the container and means for dropping the folded car-ton blanks onto the containers including means for guiding the folded carton blank toward said containers, roller means mounted in a rotating support, the axis of rotation of said support being positioned beyond the termination of said carton blank conveying means and extending above and across the path of travel of the containers being delivered into the machine, said roller means completing the downward folding of the car-ton blank side panels, and pressing the folded carton blank down upon the upper portions of said containers by the rolling action of said rollers, and resilient finger means attached to said rotating support and having an arcuate end portion substantially tangential to the circular path of travel of said finger means, said resilient finger means additionally pressing the folded carton blank against the upper portions of the containers.

2. In a machine for applying a wrap-around carton to containers and the like arranged in rows, means for delivering the carton blanks into the machine including carton blank conveying means operating in the direction of and overlying the containers being delivered into the machine, said means for delivering the carton blanks terminating substantially above the location where said folded carton blanks are dropped onto the containers; means for dropping the folded carton blanks onto the containers including means for completing the downward folding of the carton blank side panels, means for guiding the folded carton blanks toward said containers, and means for forcing the folded carton blank against the upper portions of the containers; and means for positioning the folded carton blank with respect to the containers to be packaged therein including carton blank stop members disposed adjacent said location where the folded carton blanks are dropped onto the containers and means for cyclically moving said stop members into and out :of the path of travel of said folded carton blanks at said location, said moving means initially extending said stop members into said path of travel to engage said folded carton blanks being dropped and to arrest their forward motion as the containers to be packaged therein are delivered beneath said folded carton blank, and subsequently to withdraw said stop members to release said folded carton blanks for conveyance through the machine.

3. In a machine for applying a wrap-around carton to containers and the like arranged in rows and moving at a predetermined linear speed, means for simultaneously tightening said car-ton blank about the containers and supporting the carton blank bottom closure panels including driving means operating with the linear speed of and in the direction of the carton blanks and containers, and tightening members disposed along said driving members, said tightening members being adapted to bear upon the portions of the canton blank side between the containers to be packaged therein and to engage the bottom closure panels adjacent said portions, whereby said carton blank is tightened about the containers while being closed.

4. In a machine for applying a wrap-around carton to containers and the like arranged in rows and moving at a predetermined linear speed, said carton having closure panels, one of which has a latch opening and the other of ll which includes a rotary catch for engagement with said latch openings, means for tightening said carton blank around the containers while said carton blank is being closed and locked including driving means operating with the linear speed of and in the direction of the carton blanks and containers, and tightening members disposed along said driving members and adapted to engage .the carton blank side walls between the containers to be packaged therein, whereby said carton blank is tightened about the containers while being closed and locked.

5. In a machine for applying a wrap-around carton to containers and the like arranged in rows, means for delivering the carton blanks into the machine including carton blank conveying means operating in the direction of and overlying the containers being delivered into the machine, said means for delivering the carton blanks terminating substantially above the location where said folded carton blanks are dropped onto the containers; means for dropping the folded carton blanks onto the containers including means for completing the downward folding of the carton blank side panels, means for guiding the folded cart-on blanks toward said containers, and means for forcing the folded carton blank against the upper portions of the containers; means for positioning the folded carton blank with respect to the containers to be packaged therein including carton blank stop members and means for cyclically moving said stop members, said moving means initially extending said stop members to intercept said folded carton blanks being dropped and to arrest their forward motion as the containers to be packaged therein advance beneath said folded carton blank; means for conveying the cart-on blank and containers to be packaged therein away from the incoming containers and through the machine for closing of the carton blank; and means for tightening said carton blank around the containers while the carton blank is being closed, said tightening means moving adjacent to the canton blanks and containers to be packaged and applying lateral forces to said carton blank. W

6. In a machine for applying :a wraparound carton to containers and the like arranged in rows, means for conveying the carton blank-s and containers to be packaged therein away from the containers being delivered and through the machine as a unit includes pusher mean being driven at a path velocity greater than the path velocity of said containers being delivered into the machine and means for tightening the carton blank around the containers, said tightening means moving in the direction of and at the speed of said pushers and applying lateral forces to the side panels of the carton blank between the containers Within, whereby said folded carton blank and the containers to be packaged therein are separated from said containers being delivered into the machine and advanced for closing of the carton blank about the containers.

7. The method of packaging a plurality of containers such as bottles, cans and the like in a wrap-around, openended carton having a top wall, side walls and two overlapping bottom flaps adapted to be locked together to form a bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of feeding containers and carton blanks to said machine, conveying said carton blanks, one at a time, along a path in the direction toward the delivery end of said machine while simultaneously moving said containers, in at least one row, in the direction of and underlying the path of travel of said carton blanks, continuing the movement of said containers with each individual container in a row in contact with its preceding and its following container, maintaining the forward movement of said containers at a slower speed than the speed of the forward travel of the blanks, delivering said blanks downwardly, one at a time,

into position upon a predetermined number of moving containers while substantially maintaining the relative speeds of said blanks and said containers, moving each group of said predetermined number of containers with 12 said blanks thereon forwardly away from said row at a greater speed than the speed of movement of the containers, folding said blank about said predetermined number of containers with the bottom flaps of said blank being folded upwardly into locking position, and finally locking said flaps to each other to form said bottom wall. 8. The method of packaging a plurality of containers such as bottles, cans and the like in a Wrap-around, openended carton having a top wall, side walls and two overlapping bottom fiaps adapted to be locked together to form a bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of feeding containers and carton blanks to said machine, conveying said carton blanks, one at a time, along a path in the direction toward the delivery end of said machine while simultaneously moving said containers, in at least one row, in the direction of and underlying the path of travel of said carton blanks, continuing the movement of said containers with each individual container in a row in contact with its preceding and its following container, maintaining the forward movement of said containers at a speed relative to the speed of the forward travel of the blanks, delivering said blanks downwardly, one at a time; into position upon a predetermined number of moving containers while substantially maintaining the relative speeds of said blanks and said containers, moving each group of said predetermined number of containers with said blanks thereon forwardly away from said row at a greater speed than the speed of movement of the containers, then folding said blank about said predetermined number of containers with the bottom flaps of said blank being folded upwardly into locking position, and finally locking said flaps to'each other to form said bottom wall. 9. The method of packaging a plurality of containers such as bottles, cans and the like in a wrap-around, openended carton having a top wall, side walls and two overlapping bottom flaps adapted to be secured together to form a bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of feeding containers and carton blanks to said machine, conveying said carton blanks, one at a time along a path in the direction toward the delivery end of said machine while simultaneously moving said containers, in at least one row, in the direction of and underlying the path of travel of said carton blanks, continuing the movement of said containers with each individual container in a row in contact with its preceding and its following container, maintaining the forward movement of said containers at a slower speed than the speed of the forward travel of the blanks, delivering said blanks downwardly, one at a time, into position upon a predetermined number of mov ing containers while substantially maintaining the relative speeds of said blanks and said containers, moving each group of said predetermined number of containers with said blanks thereon forwardly away from said row at a greater speed than the speed of movement of the containers, folding said blank about said predetermined number of containers with the bottom flaps of said blank being folded upwardly into securing position, and finally securing said flaps to each other to form said bottom wall. 10. The method of packaging a plurality of containers such as bottles, cans and the like in a wraparound, openended carton, said carton having a top wall, side walls and two overlapping bottom flaps adapted to be secured together to form abottom wall, said method comprising the steps of feeding containers and carton blanks to said machine, conveying said carton blanks, one at a time along a path in the direction toward the delivery end of said machine while simultaneously moving said containers, in at least one row, in the direction of and underlying the path of travel of said carton blanks, continuing the movement of said containers with each individual container in a row in contact with its preceding and its following container, maintaining the forward movement of said containers at a speed relative to the speed of the forward travel of the blanks, delivering said blanks downwardly, one at a time, into position upon a predetermined 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR APPLYING A WRAP-AROUND CARTON TO CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE ARRANGED IN ROWS, MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE CARTON BLANKS INTO THE MACHINE INCLUDING CARTON BLANK CONVEYING MEANS OPERATING IN THE DIRECTION OF AND OVERLYING THE CONTAINERS BEING DELIVERED INTO THE MACHINE, SAID MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE CARTON BLANKS TERMINATING SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE LOCATION WHERE SAID FOLDED CARTON BLANKS ARE DROPPED ONTO THE CONTAINER AND MEANS FOR DROPPING THE FOLDED CARTON BLANKS ONTO THE CONTAINERS INCLUDING MEANS FOR GUIDING THE FOLDED CARTON BLANK TOWARD SAID CONTAINERS, ROLLER MEANS MOUNTED IN A ROTATING SUPPORT, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT BEING POSITIONED BEYOND THE TERMINATION OF SAID CARTON BLANK CONVEYING MEANS AND EXTENDING ABOVE AND ACROSS THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE CONTAINERS BEING DELIVERED INTO THE MACHINE, SAID ROLLER MEANS COMPLETING THE DOWNWARD FOLDING OF THE CARTON BLANK SIDE PANELS, AND PRESSING THE FOLDED CARTON BLANK DOWN UPON THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINERS BY THE ROLLING ACTION OF SAID ROLLERS, AND RESILIENT FINGER MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID ROTATING SUPPORT AND HAVING AN ARCUATE END PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE CIRCULAR PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID FINGER MEANS, SAID RESILIENT FINGER MEANS ADDITIONALLY PRESSING THE FOLDED CARTON BLANK AGAINST THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINERS.
 4. IN A MACHINE FOR APPLYING A WRAP-AROUND CARTON TO CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE ARRANGED IN ROWS AND MOVING AT A PREDETERMINED LINEAR SPEED, SAID CARTON HAVING CLOSURE PANELS, ONE OF WHICH HAS A LATCH OPENING AND THE OTHER OF WHICH INCLUDES A ROTARY CATCH FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH OPENINGS, MEANS FOR TIGHTENING SAID CARTON BLANK AROUND THE CONTAINERS WHILE SAID CARTON BLANK IS BEING CLOSED AND LOCKED INCLUDING DRIVING MEANS OPERATING WITH THE LINEAR SPEED OF AND IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CARTON BLANKS AND CONTAINERS, AND TIGHTENING MEMBERS DISPOSED ALONG SAID DRIVING MEMBERS AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE CARTON BLANK SIDE WALLS BETWEEN THE CONTAINERS TO BE PACKAGED THEREIN, WHEREBY SAID CARTON BLANK IS TIGHTENED ABOUT THE CONTAINERS WHILE BEING CLOSED AND LOCKED. 